Is it Monday, or is it Thursday? Why, it’s Maundy Thursday!

Of course Maundy has nothing to do with Monday. The word is most likely derived from the Latin “mandatum,” as in “Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos” (“A new commandment I give you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you”). Or it could come from the Middle English and Old French words “maund” and “mendier,” respectively, after the Latin “mendicare,” meaning to beg.

In any case, we are now entering the holiest days of the Christian calendar. Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus’ washing of the feet of his disciples, the Last Supper, and the betrayal and arrest of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane.

I’m not on the air today, but if I were, I would most certainly play Victor de Sabata’s beautiful meditation for orchestra, “Gethsemani.” De Sabata is remembered primarily as a conductor, especially of opera, having led the classic recording of “Tosca” with Maria Callas. He got his start playing violin in an orchestra under Toscanini. Toscanini encouraged the young man to become a conductor, which was kind of like letting the genie out of the bottle. Their relationship status passed from mentor-disciple to friendship to bitter rivalry. For decades, De Sabata was principal conductor at La Scala. For a time, he was its artistic director. One observer described his appearance while conducting as a cross between Julius Caesar and Satan. The two volatile Italians (do I detect a redundancy?) eventually reconciled. Still, it’s never good practice to snub Toscanini or to entertain Mussolini. Aspiring time travelers, take heed!

De Sabata was also a composer, who wrote his share of opulent music. Unfortunately, the only recording I can find of “Gethsemani” posted on YouTube is this piano version.

It’s still lovely, of course, but you should definitely check out the orchestral version, easily obtained as part of this gorgeous album issued on the Hyperion Records label.

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/c.asp?c=C1208

I find De Sabata’s “Gethsemani” to be touching. There’s little maudlin in his Maundy.